ICA Reflex Camera User manual

Instructions
for usirg the


            |;

 Reflex
 Cam era                gsl\e-; ut

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)
   R e f I e x
)   C zmeras

       For Plates and
           F'ilm Pack





      Harold M. BennettD                 U. S. Agent
                   r r o East z3rd Street
            New York
       NEW ADDR=Sq
         153 W, 23rd ST,q[[T

Before Using the Camera
      Yotr are doubtless eager to rrse your new
     car)rera, but if you can restrain yourself just
   a little, it rvill be better if vt,, read the
)   instrtrctions before you load the holders or   attempt any pictures. Become familiar
    u'ith the various movernents and adjust-
    ments, especially with the rvorking of the
    shutter, the operation of focusing, etc., be-
)   fore loading or exposing an1' plates or fihn,    arld it is more than likely that y6u1 actual
    progress in picture-making will be more
    rapid, and that you will rvaste less mate-
     rial.
     Don't use force. In rvorking any of the
   moventents of the carnera or shutter it  is
    not necessary to use force. The mechanism
    of the instrument is adjusted and tested so
    that all parts rvork smoothly and easily. If
     this doesn't seem to be so rvhen you first take
    hold of the camera, the chances are you ar(1
    not "taking hold" in the right way. The
    camera is strongly n-rade, but forcing is apt
    to cause dantage.
                                -fhis     Lens cooer and shade.        is only fur-
    nished on dre 3',4x1'A model. The lens is
    protected from cir.rst and damage, .lvhcn not
    in use, by u hinged cover fastened rvith a
    simple catch. When the catch is released
    the cover springs open and remains at such
   an angle that it forms a serviceable and
     effective shade for the lens. This is a much
   more important feature than might be sup-
   posed. Large aperture lenses such as those
)   generally employed rvith reflecting cameras
    ahvays rvork much more clearly when used
    rvith a shade.
     Focusing hood. The top of the box is
    rmed by another hinged cover, also Se:

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                                                                                  Digitally signed by mike
                                                                  butkus
                                                             DN: cn=mike butkus,          mike        o=orphancameras, ou=29,
                                                                   email=mike@butkus.org,
                                                         c=US
                                                                        Date: 2017.06.27 20:00:42          butkus -04'00'                  e,                                                              -.?l





cured b]' a sirnple catch. When the cover
is opened the self-erecting focusing hood
springs into position. The hood is high
enough so that the focusing screen can be
                                    andviewbd without straining the eyes ;
everlr portion of the ground glass up to the
extreme corners can be readily examined-
due to the square shape of the hood and the
full size opening at the top.
  The hood is closed by simply folding in
the creases already formed, pressing it down
flat and closing the cover.
  Focusinq is done by turning the focusing
screw on the same side of the box as the
handle. Turning this screw moves the lens
which is thus brought itrto focus for objects
at varior-rs distances. "fhe movement of the
front is very smooth and easy. On the right       t'
hand side of the camera is the focusing ((Af\scaledistances, in feet, sho'uving at point             ((8"At the point        is the infinity catch. Holl

I

                                            ,d;
   ing the thumb at this point Jrou can feel
      .n h.t, the lens is in focus for distant objects.
   This does trot halt the movement of the
     froirt r,vhen focusing on near objects, but
t    affords a convenient means of quickly focus-    rng on distant ob-iects.
    The image produced b)' the lens is re-
     flected by a mirror inside the camera on the
    grotrnd glass screen inside the focusing
    hood.
      T'he image iS seen on the ground glass,
     full size and right side up, to the instant of
    exposure.
     The shuttet of the Ica Reflex Camera is
    of the focal plane type of an improved and
     simplified pattem. It consists essentially of
    a ligtrt-tight curtain or blind rvhich runs on
     trvo' rollers in front of and close to the
    surface of the plate-hence the name "focal
    plane." In the curtain are three slits of
     iificrent widths. An exposure is made by
     raising the mirror and then causing one of
     these ilitr to pass dow'n in front of the plate.
    Rays of lighrfrom the lens pass through the
      slit in the curtain and impress the details of
    the picture image on the sensitive surface of
    the plate or fitm. By changing the spring
    tension at the roller and using a rvide -or
      narro\\., slit irt the curtain, the duration of
    exposure may be varied from 1/ 15 to
                                             readilv       l/j 000 second. The shutter will
     give time exposures o{ any duration.                      tt100," ((25"     The numbers           and"3" rvhich
    appear on the dial "C"'refer to the width
t\   oi'slits in the curtain-measured in milli-
     rnetres, 100 millirnetres being appro-xlmutgJy
        ,l inches, 25 millirnetres  f .inch, and 3 milli-
     metres % inch.'      ((R"             arid "ER" rvhich letters appear in
                                   mean  ,Xhe routld hole above knob '(f)"
   f  otupid" and "extra rapicl," and refer to the
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 sprinp; tension. At norm al or low tension
 the letter "R" appears in the round hole.
Thc tension is increased by turning the        ((f)" screw      until '(ER" appears at thJhole.
 Tension is released by pressing upward on
screw "8."                  r              ('F"  The tablet      explains the exposures
 rvhich are given with the different slits at
low and high spring tension.
   Setting.the shutter is done by turning                  ti      ((G"                            (screw      as indicated by the arrow above                                       ll it. When no plateholder is in position thc
 operation of the curtain may be r,vatched at
the back of the camera. A half turn of
knob "G" brings the 100-millimetre open-
i.g to the back. Another half rurn covers
the opening. With the pointer on segment
 "II"  at "Inst 100" and the mirror dor.rn.
as signified by pointer on dial "I"   at
 "freer" the shutter is no\r, set for an ex-
posrrre, r,r'hich rvill be | / 15 second at "R"
sprirrg tension, or 1/30 at high tension.
   Exposure is made by pressing dorvn lever
 " J."  This swings the mirror up and re-
Ieases the ctrrtain which goes dorvn and the
opening (slit) crosses the plate. Pressure
of the thumb on lever "J" should be main-
tained for an ins12p1-there is a bare chance
that if released too quickly the mirror rvouLd
be aliowed to descend before the exposure
was completed.
  When pointer on segment "H" is at "Inst
100" the curtain cannot be rvound up anv
farther than to set it for use of the 100-
millirnetre opening.                                                                         i
  When slit 25 or 3 is to be used, the                                               -pointer on segment "Ht' is placed on "Inst
3 25t1;': 1l"tto-,r fras to U. p.,tt.a out befor.                                                      tlit r.'ill ttrrn), and the operation of rvinding
up the curtain is begun as in the case of ttyTq
100 slit, but is continued until the requirell-

;
        slit is in position, as indicateil by the figures                            -I'he       in ope nin g " C" .       lette r " Ct' at this open-
      ing signifies that the plate is covered by the
      pulfain-the opening is closed. The letter      ((O"          means open. The figures "100" shorv
      that the 100-rnillimetre  slit is in position for
      giving an exposure, etc.
      The release "K" operantes the curtain, but

t      not the mirror, and is used for changing the
I'r
        slit without making an exposure, while the
      slide is withdrarvn from plateholder, and
^     also for time exposures. Bolgv: re:
      Fot time exposures turn pointer "I"  to
      "fixed" and srving the mirror up by pres-
       srlre on lever "J." The mirror then catches
     at the limit of upr,vard movement and is
      held elevated out of the vrz?y. Turn pointer
     on segment "H" to "time 100." Wind up the
      curtain until " 100" appears in opening of
      disc "C". Then one pressure on release "Ktt
      will open the shutter and a second pressure
      will close it. A very brief time exposure
    .may be given without fixing the mirror in
      elevated position, by having the 100-milli-
      metre opening in front of plate when mirror
       is down. Raise the mirror by pressure on
      lever ".|." 'fhis  r,r'ill uncover the plate, and
     the duration of exposure will be until the
     mirror reaches its full up stroke and releases
     the gulf 2i11-probably  f rom 1/ 5 to  I / 10
     second. Another way is to have everything
     arranged as for a time exposure as stated in
      the first part of this paragraph, except that
      the mirror is free. Raising the mirror with
                   thcn cause the curtain to de-1    lever "J" will     scend and stop lvith the plate uncovered.
    The exposure,is brought to a close rvhen
                                 desc-end by releas-)    the mirror is allowed to      ing pressure on lever "J". Still another rvay
                     exposure entirely by'the  rr,is to make the
  .   t {. ,novement of the mirror, the curtain having


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been fixed at the open position by placing
pointer on segment "H" at "open."
  There is more that might be said about
the operation of the shutter, but it is quicker
and       sirnple to famili arize oneself with    -or.it bv actual trial of the various movenlents'                     tfl  The sfops. Lens openings are called
"stops" or diaphragms. They are regt-rlated
by rttating' th; t.rrolrrit g diaphragm ring of
                                            lensthe lens mount. The opening of the
                                          theis indicated by numbers, F 4.5 being                     ICIlargest lens opening. These diaphragm
 ,r.rilb.r, will be referred to in exposure in-
 stn.tctions.
  The rising and  f alling  f rcnt In the Ica
 Reflex the fiont panel r,r'hich bears the lens
 slides vertically either belorv or above the-by normal position, beins held in position
 the thumb screrv "L." The object of this
 adjustrnent is to enable the inclusion in the
 lriew of more or less above or belorv the
 normal angle of the lens, rvithout tilting the
 camera. 11 is employed principally in pho-
 tographing buildings and architectural sub-
 j.&s *h.i.  tiltinglh. .u-era would result
 in distortion of pirallel vertical lines in the
 picture.
    Rett:ersible back. This feature is only
 furnished in the 3',4x1y'+ Ica Reflex and
 allows the picture to be made either ver-
 tically or horizontally as best suits the sub-     "without ject,          turning ,the -camera. The ta.k is secured to the box by trvo pins at
                                          back, the top u'hich fit depressions in the                          bottom ,"a 11:the sliding catih l'NI," at the                                                                fl
 of the box with two prongs which engage
 pins in the bottom of the back-the back    n  f.it-tg square and fitted rvith the depressions 5     "pi"t                                         be        on two sides so that it may u"d
 uttu.ft.a either \'&Y, for vertical or hori-A\
  zontal viervs. The-back is released by pull-

,L     ing out the catch "n{." The focusing screen
         is marked to indicate the vieu. that;ill  be
        incltrded either way.
       Loading the plateholders. Single metal
u       plateholders are provided for the I& Reflex.
 -    Actual loading of plates of course has to be r
                                               is n,ell to be- I     done in the darkroom, but it
 ;     conre familiar with the rnethod of procedure                  u.here one can ... th. opera- I     in the light '7   tion. T'he plate is held in position in the
 '     holdcr by tr,r'o projections at the same end
       as that at n.hich the slide is rvithdrawn, the
 ,,    projections being moved in and out bv a
       sliding bar at the center. Insert the piate
     by putting one end of it under the flange
      at the opposite end of the holder. The
      other etid of the plate is then pressed into
       position against the springs that bear against
       the back of it. Do not allorv the fingirs to
      touch the face of the plate.





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   General Suggestions
  The lca Reflex Cameru is simple and
Eute. To one lvho is accustomed to the
usual form of hand camera, the Ica Reflex
mav at first appear complicated. It is not
so. In fact, of all cameras intended prin-
cipaliycipaliy forfor quickquick n'orkn'ork inin thethe handhand itit isis thethe       imost simple and certain. Consider that the
trvo greatest difficulties that beset the em-  ./  I
plo1,rns.1 of the usual hancl *.ru-an.   O{
uncertaint]t of focusir"rg by scale and wrolg
placing of the vien' due to the smail finder
      done away u'ith altogether in the re-
-areflex.  N'Ioreover, the Ica Reflex affords
special facility in obtaining superior results   '
rvith certainty and in circumstances under
which most other types of cameras lvould
hardly do the u'ork at all.   /ufrv;      ' ut{
   " Etops" and " Depth." Depth of focus
or field means the ability to focus sharply
both near and distant objects at the same
time. It depends entirely upon the diam-
eter of the opening (stop) in the lens--the
larger the opening the less depth, and the
smaller the opening the greater the depth.
You can demonstrate tiris to yourself by
focusing upon the ground glass. Focus on
an object ten feet away rvith the largest
opening in the ler"rs and you rvill see that
objects much nearer or farther away are
not sharp. But decrease the size of the
stop and ]'ou will observe that objects nearer
arrd farther away are made more sharp,
until u'ith a very small lens stop almost
er,'erything in front of the catnera is fairly                   rlr,r'ell defined-although the sharpest focus
is still at ten feet.
   Larger stops can be used n'ith a reflecting
camera than with the ttsual hand camer?^\
at a conseqrtent gain in speed ; because rvitl

*
      the reflex the operator is absolutely certain
      of the foctrs and of the clepth thl lens is
      givrng, ryd he need only employ a stop
        sufficiently small to give the depttr desired;
      whereas rvith the ordinary hand camera ii
         is customary, or shall we say compulsory, to
      use a rather srnaller stop than necessary soi     as to be "on the safe side."
          6.3 is a good apertllre for general use. l    _ I'        It gives sufiicient depth for the lnaioritv of
      slbjects, and allorvs enough light- to passIn
      for all but very quick ."poi.,t..1t r"otl  ir,
     poor light.  It  is good practice alrvays to
      use the largest stop that u'ill give sufficient
      depth, and to regrrlate the amount of light
      action by quickness of exposure rather th-an
     bv changing the lens aperture. In the case
      of a single figure, no particular depth is de-
       sired, and the Iargest stop rvill probably give       -the         most effective  resr-rtrt.
      Camera should not be too close to sub-
      ject. Generally speaking, the rnost satisfac-
     ltory results are secured by photographing
     any object from at least as distant a vierv-
      point as rvill give a large enough image. It
       is usually a rnistake, from considerations of
     pleasing and natural rendering of perspect-
      ive, to move the camera closer to an obiect
      to give a larger image. A better plan ii to
     operate frorn a viewpoint u'here the object
     looks most pleasing to the eve, even though
     the resulting in-rage in the pictr,rre is ver.v
    small-and then secure the desired size by
     the process of enlargement. This is parti-
    , cularly true in regard to portraits, and it is
    a good ru]e in portraiture not to have the
     subject nearer the camera than six feet.
      Use of the film pach. The pack provides
     perhaps the most conl'enient form of dav-
                                certainly more deht1'      loading film. It is      ,uicklv loaded than roll film, and the chang-
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 ing of fiim betrveen exposures is at least as
 quickly effected. Certain characteristics of
 film pack"ntlst be borne in mind, however,
 and certain precatrtions observed, to get best               I
 resul ts.
   Film does not and cannot be expected,                 el because of its flexible nature, to present
 si.rch a perfectlv flat, plane surface as does
 a glass piate. Neither does the pack lie so                                                                                   I flat as roll film. Therefore, it is advisable, rvhen ilsing film pack, to employ a rather      (             a smaller lens opening than n'ould be used
 u'ith a plate-the added depth thus obtained
 compensating to a large degre for any ttn-
 evenness in the film surface. It is r,vell also
 not to leave the slide out of the film pack
 holder any longer than uecessary, for this
.allorvs more air to reach the film.  If the
 air is \4/arm and damp, the film that is ex-
 posed to it will absorb moisture and sr,r.ell,
 thus causing it to bulge out. This rnay be
 overcome to a certain extent by changing
 the film, that is, drarving a new section irlto
 position, just before instead of just aftet
 the exposure.
  One or more exposed films may be taken
 from the pack for development before the
 whole tll'elve exposures are made. We be-
 lieve it is better, however, not to do this,
 but to learre the twelve films in the pack
 until all are exposed.
   In developing film pack expostlres, han-
 dling of the films-that is to S?y, actual
 touching of the film with the fingers---
                nS :i",:'.1.*.        ffi1i*1il:*T,i?il  J"'n'i"f; I ably the best way is to develop in the tank
 rr-hich is specially designed for the film pack.                                                             t  Film pack is somervhat orthocromatic,
 and a ray filter of light tint may be userfa
 n-ith it for better rendering of clouds, etc.'
                        72
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I
    trtposure Suggestions
    Right exposure lies at the very founda-
                                                                      is  tion of all sttccessful photography. It
   zrclvisable for every photographer to provide
  himself rvith solne efficient tlipe of exposure
  meter, and make a thorough study of the
   subject.
  We will, however, venture to suggest
  hereu,ith sorle exposures for common sub-
   jects that rvill probably be not far out of
                                               lens  ih. t"oy. They are calculated for a
  opening of tr 6.3 and should give fairly full
                                              a   light aition on speed film or any plate of
  corresponding speed.

                  Outdoors.
     Intetrse sunlight, no shadorv detail re-
   quired, such as open landscapes or viervs on
   the rvater, l/ 150 to 1/350 second.
   .  Bright sunlight, open vietv, but lo3r:                    -                  required,  1 /30 to  1/60  shadorl' detail
   second.
    Open vierv in light that rvotrld be called
   "cloudy bright," or vierv u'ith near obje-cts,
                                                       less   lighted bl' *tr, but containing more or
   sha,lo.v detail which should be plainly
  shon'n. 1/ fi to 1/30 seconcl.
     IJnder trees or on porch, rvhere principal
   part of vieu, is in shadow, rvhether partfy
   illrrrni,ruted by direct sunlight or not, L/5
   to l/70 second.
    (Remember that these exposures are cal-
   culated for stop F 6.3 and a medium rapid
  plate. Stop F 4.5 gives more than trl'ice
   ut -u.h light action as F 6.3, and there are   several brands of ultra rapid plates that are
f-{.ully tu-ice as fast as those on which thir;\   able is based.)
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                  Indoors.
   Portrait near rvindow, well lighted ancl
using reflector or having light from r,vin-
 dorvs on t\rro sides. 7 / 5 to 1 second.
    (V\zith F 4.5 and a fast plate it is entirely feasible to take portraits in a very well nl
lighted room rvith an exposure of 1/15 sec-
ond the camera being held in the hand or
placed on a tripod, as preferred. The cam-       t
era r,vill be steadier on a tripod. )                                            -,{   Interior vier,v, rvell lighted by two or
more rvindows, light not shut off by trees
or other objects, 2 to 70 secorrds.
   In the case of interior viervs it is usually
advisable for the sake of depth (securing
both near and distant objects sharply fo-
cused) to use a stop not larger than F 16
a.nd iengthen the exposure accordingly. Re-
member that each successively smaller stop
requires a doubling of the exposure, so that                                                                                                               \f.iwith F 76 a weli lighted room rvould re-
quire an exposure of 12 seconds to 1 min- *
              interiorsute. Ifost                     require much longer dexposure                  that.         than
  Exposures fot mooing objects, In pho-
tographing objects that are in motion, we are
not concerned so much as to whether the
plate shall be fully exposed as we are that
the picture shall be free from blurring
caused by movement of the object. The
chief thing is that the motion shall bc
"stopped."
  No exposnre slower than 1/150 second
can be expected to give sharp details of even
slowly moving objects, if the motion is at
right angles to the direction in rvhich the
camera is pointed. 1/ 60 second might do                                             tfor people rvalking slorvly torvard the
camera.
   1i 350 second is a good exposure to giv,                      i

                                   1.4
                   L

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      for nrotion of rnedium rapiditv or where the
     object is not very near the camera. and
      *il_h F 4.51 a fast plate and bright light it
       rvill give plenty of light action-the plate
     will receive a fairly full exposure.
      For really fast motion, such as races andF sports, or even for comparatively slow
    movement at right angles or when the ob-
      ject is close, the fastest exposure the shutter
      rvill give, li 1000 second, should be em-
    ployed. Of course, verv goocl illumination
      is r-reeded for these quick exposures, as well
    as a large aperture in the lens and a fast
      plate.
     One is not altogether limited in range of
     speeds to those shorvn on the tablet. lfn.
     spring tension rnal' be set betr,veen "R" and    ((ER"          and interrnediate speeds thus secured
         the way  f rorn 1 / 350 to  1 / 1000     second.-all
       Experience in photographing moving oh-
     jects rvill shorv that there irc often in-
     stants of slourer movement, such as the pole-
      'iraulter u'hen he is just clearing the bar or
 .   the baseball pitcher wher-r he has his artn
     drau,'n back readlr to throur, $rhen a com
     parativetrv slou' shutter action lvill suffice.
     Cameru should be hetd steadg. Mucir
    of the amateur photographer's troubles car-r
    be traced to an unsteadiness of the camera
    at the instant of exposure, and this is just
    as true rvith the Reflex as u'ith other canl-
    eras-particularly vrith comparatively slow
    exposures like 1 /75 and 1/30 second. Such
     rrnsteadiness restrlts inevitably in a blurring
I   of the details of the picture. It is well to'   hold the camera firmly against the body-.
    not supported by the hands only. It is best
    to use a tripod or other firm support for the
   ,cEmera u-henever it is convenient for ex-
   '(  iures as slow as 1/15 or l/30 second,
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and, of corlrse, for anything slower than
1/ 15 the tripod is a necessity.
  KeeP the camera and lens free froin dust.
Dirt and dust, especially dust, are enemies
of the photographer. Dust is particularll' ,-
a,rrovirrg,             ,not- to say disa.strout !g- ilLt:    lIsults, in the case of small negatives. -b'or
where in contact prints a few dust marks            I
on the negative may do no harm, rvhen an               I
enlargement is tnade every dust mark is       i
enlar[ed.          !oo,           and makes an ugly blemish t     Ion the 1;rint. Be careful, therefore, fre-    '
quently to dust out the inside of the camera
rvith a clean, lintless cloth or catnels-hair
brush, or both.
  When the lens is unscrewed from the
front, the front panel can be slid clear out,
affoiding access to the inside of the box and
surface of the mirror.
  The lenses should also be kept clean, and
should be unscrerved from their mounting
occasionally, and carefully antl gently wiped
off with a soft cloth ( an old but clean linen
handkerchief is good) and afterward dusted
rvith a camel's-hair brush. Be very careful
not to scratch the lenses.
  In conclusion. Instructions and sugges-
tions such as the foregoir-rg mttst necessarily
be brief. or they are likely to defeat their
own object. f'here are many matters,
therefore, that have to do with everyday
camera u'ork rvhich ate ttot herein men-
tioned at all. In closing let us 'lvish you the
best of success rvith the Ica Reflex Camera.
 Its makers know that it is a thoroughly
capable and reliable instrument. Success                                                  aucl awith it lvill be measured by the care
skill rvith rvhich it is used.              #
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